Jubilee Post News & Views
Special Desk
Restrictions are being lifted as Hawai changes rules for visitors and actually eases them. Previously, travelers had to get tested before traveling to Kauai, Maui or Hawaii Island from other parts of the state if they wanted to avoid quarantine.
There will be no testing, no quarantine requirements for inter-county travel now, said governor David Ige (D) in a news conference.
Ige said at the time that the change was possible because Hawaii was approaching a new milestone of having 55% of the population fully vaccinated.
The state had reached that benchmark by Monday. Since May 11, those inter-county restrictions also did not apply to state residents who had been vaccinated in Hawaii.
Also, people who have been vaccinated in Hawaii will not have to test or quarantine upon their return if they leave the state.
Ige said future easing of travel rules will also be tied to vaccination rates in Hawaii, an announcement that coincides with a vaccination campaign and incentive push.
The state has had its Safe Travels program in place since October, with strict requirements for testing before arrival — or staying in quarantine for 10 days.
Once the state reaches 60% of the population fully vaccinated, domestic travelers who were vaccinated in the United States will be able to visit without needing to test in advance or quarantine after they arrive.
In April, officials said that vaccinated travelers from the continental U.S. would be able to skip testing later in the summer, but did not announce a date.
Reaching the big goal, a 70% vaccination rate, means restrictions on travel for everyone will be lifted. “The easing of travel restrictions is a direct result of our robust vaccination rate, and a community that sacrificed and did what it had to do over the past year and a half to stop the spread of covid-19,” Ige said in a statement.
